Could reliance on AI harm critical thinking in young people? Researchers have their worries

More than 650 people took part in the research, with the results suggesting a link between usage and lower cognitive abilities

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According to a study involving more than 650 people in Britain, the use of artificial intelligence appeared to be linked to lower critical thinking skills. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 12:38pm, 16 Jan 2025Updated: 3:15pm, 16 Jan 2025

As universities in China and around the world grapple with the rapid rise of artificial intelligence among their students, a study in Britain has found that frequent use of AI tools could hurt critical thinking abilities.

Fudan University in Shanghai, which in November was the first in China to introduce regulations on the use of AI tools in undergraduate theses, is continuing to review and improve the rules during the trial phase, according to state news agency Xinhua.

In recent weeks, Beijing Normal University, East China Normal University, Communication University of China and Tianjin University of Science and Technology have also released regulations on AI use.

Universities in other countries – including leading institutes in Britain, Canada, Germany, Japan, Singapore and the US – are also racing to develop rules that strike a balance between the evolving technology and the integrity of teaching and learning.

According to the British study, published on January 3 in the peer-reviewed journal Societies, analysis of responses from more than 650 people aged 17 and over showed evidence of lower critical thinking skills among young people who used AI extensively.

“Younger participants who exhibited higher dependence on AI tools scored lower in critical thinking compared to their older counterparts,” wrote study author Michael Gerlich from the SBS Swiss Business School.